Sauteed Pear Oatmeal

I've gone pear crazy. The strange thing is, I don't even LIKE pears that much! I won't go into that...I've explained it before. However, I've recently discovered that their relatively mild flavor and texture lends well to unique oatmeal recipes.

For this particular recipe, it's okay for your pears to be slightly under-ripe. If it's too ripe/soft, it may turn to mush when you saute it. If that's what you WANT, then go for it. :)

To Make the Sauteed Pears...

Required Ingredients

1 pear (I used Bartlett)

1/4 tsp cinnamon
SMALL pinch of cloves
pinch of nutmeg
pinch of ginger
oil, butter, Earth Balance, or cooking spray

1. Cut pear into chunks.
2. Heat skillet over medium heat. Add oil/butter/Earth Balance OR spray with cooking spray. (Honestly, I just used cooking spray. Sorry, Julia Child.)
3. Saute until sides/edges are gorgeously browned, about two minutes on each side.
4. Dump into a bowl and add spices on top. Stir until coated. Set aside.

Sauteed Pear Oatmeal

Required Ingredients

1/2 cup regular rolled oats

1 cup liquid (water and/or milk of choice)
1/2 tsp vanilla extract

1/4 tsp cinnamon
small pinch each of cloves, nutmeg, and ginger
sauteed pears

pinch of salt

1. Bring liquid (I use an equal mixture of almond milk and water) to a boil, add oats, and reduce heat to medium. (If you'd like to add flax or chia seeds, do so now.) 
2. Once more of the liquid has dissolved, add vanilla extract, cinnamon, other spices, and salt. Stir.
3. Add half of the sauteed pears. If you'd like to add any extra ingredients (coconut oil, dried fruit, nuts, sunflower seeds), do so now.
4. When you're pleased with the consistency of the oatmeal, transfer to a bowl. Top with remaining sauteed pears and another splash of your milk of choice, as well as any other additional toppings (I used walnuts. Raisins would also be a nice touch!).

**You can also find hundreds of other oatmeal recipes (as well as tons of other meatless recipes) on my Pinterest account!  Thanks!